You’ll Never Walk Alone

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You’ll Never Walk Alone (m. Richard Rodgers, w. Oscar Hammerstein II) was written for and introduced in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel, which enjoyed a run of 890 performances at the Majestic Theatre (19 April 1945 – 24 May 1947).

Excerpts from the Wikipedia article on the song:

In the musical, in the second act, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings “You’ll Never Walk Alone” to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the male lead, is killed during a failed robbery. It is reprised in the final scene to encourage a graduation class of which Louise (Billy and Julie’s daughter) is a member. Billy watches this ceremony during his return to earth.

Christine Johnson, who created the role of Nettie Fowler, introduced the song in the original Broadway production. Later in the show Jan Clayton, as Julie Jordan, reprised it, with the chorus joining in.

Besides the recordings of the song on the Carousel cast albums and the film soundtrack, the song has been recorded by many artists as listed below, with notable hit versions made by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Gerry & The Pacemakers, Elvis Presley, Doris Day, Roy Hamilton, Patti LaBelle & the Blue Belles, Johnny Cash, Tom Jones, Marty Robbins, and Renée Fleming.

The song is also sung at association football clubs around the world, where it is performed by a massed chorus of supporters on matchday; this tradition began at Liverpool Football Club in the early 1960s and later spread to several other clubs.[1]

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Frank Sinatra with the Ken Lane Singers, recorded 1 May 1945 , arranged by Axel Stordahl

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Original Cast Album – Christine Johnson and ensemble, 1945 — the provider says, “Introduced during the second act by Aunt Netty (played by Christine Johnson) to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband Billy is killed during a failed robbery.”

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Roy Hamilton – 1954

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Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps, from the 1958 album Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll

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Judy Garland – recorded 3 August 1960 for Capitol Records with Orchestra conducted by Norrie Paramor, released on LP Judy in London, 1972

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Frank Sinatra – recorded 19 February 1963, arranged by Nelson Riddle

Vodpod videos no longer available.

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Gerry & the Pacemakers

1963

Vodpod videos no longer available..

from Episode #40 of Shindig!, aired 16 June 1965

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The Lettermen, 1964

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Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires — recorded 11 September 1967 (between 9:30pm and 12:30am) at RCA Studio B, Nashville